Louis Auguste Lepère

Louis Auguste Lepère was an artist active during the latter half of the nineteenth century, with documented production spanning the years 1869 to 1889. His surviving body of work comprises detailed graphic arts, focusing specifically on high-quality prints. His significance is underscored by institutional representation, with 15 impressions held in museum collections, notably at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Lepère’s work frequently captures both architectural majesty and everyday life. His subjects range from intricate street scenes, such as Paris: la Rue de la Montagne-Ste-Geneviève, to depictions of monumental religious architecture, including Rouen Cathedral. Other compositions document contemporary leisure, exemplified by the theater observation Fauteuils d'orchestre, from Tirage Unique de Trente-Six Bois, and rural labor, seen in Fern Burners in the Forest. These subjects confirm Lepère's role as a keen visual chronicler of late nineteenth-century France.

The enduring interest in Louis Auguste Lepère prints has maintained their visibility. As many of his creations fall within the public domain, these original compositions are frequently reproduced as museum-quality studies, allowing broad access to his graphic legacy.